Double-flare die for tube flaring tool



Nov. 23, 1965 F. R. WILSON DOUBLE-FLARE DIE FOR TUBE FLARING TOOLOriginal Filed Feb. 16, 1955 INVENTOR. FRANK R. WILSON E ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,218,837 DOUBLE-FLARE DIE FOR TUBE FLARING TOOL Frank R.Wilson, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to Parker- Hannifin Corporation,Cleveland, 0hio, a corporation of Ohio Original application Feb. 16,1955, Ser. No. 488,458, now Patent No. 3,044,531, dated July 17, 1962.Divided and this application May 1, 1962, Ser. No. 216,693 2 Claims.(Cl. 72-317) This application is a division of application S.N. 488,458,of Frank R. Wilson, filed February 16, 1955, now Pat. No. 3,044,531,granted on July 17, 1962.

This invention relates to a tube flaring tool and, more particularly, toa hand operated tool adapted to provide accurately dimensioned single ordouble flares on the ends of tubes of varying sizes.

The tube flaring tool forming the subject of the present inventioncontains a number of novel features not heretofore known to the art andwhich greatly facilitate the use of the tool in forming correctlydimensioned flares on the various sizes of tubing adapted to be handledby the tool.

Double flares may be produced by the tool through the use of a novelform of double-flare die which fits over the flaring cone and provides apressure face for engaging the end of the tube for expanding the same asthe cone is forced into the tube. The tip of the cone is adapted toproject through an aperture in the die and act as an abutment to preventinward movement of the end of the tube as it is expanded by the die. Thenovel doubleflare die shown herein may be made either with a singlepressure face, as shown, or with a multiple pressure face as shown anddescribed in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 338,303, filedFebruary 24, 1953, for Flaring Tool, now Patent No. 2,852,839.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved tubeflaring tool which is capable of forming accurately dimensioned flaresof either a single or double character on tubing of various sizes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel type ofdouble-forming die of simplified construction.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from thefollowing description, the invention includes certain novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts the essential elements of whichare set forth in the appended claims and a preferred form or embodimentof which will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawingswhich accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a tube flaring tool constructed inaccordance with the teachings of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but with the clampingmembers swung open and with the die inserts removed therefrom.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation taken along the line 44 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through one of thedouble-flaring dies.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the die inserts.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing one of theretaining clips for holding the die inserts in place.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the stop for gauging the height ofthe tube for single flares.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a double-flare die plate containing aplurality of die faces of different sizes.

Patented Nov. 23, 1965 "ice The tube flaring tool herein shown consistsgenerally of a clamping means 10 for holding the tube 11 which is to beflared, a flaring cone 12 for spreading the end of the tube to form aflare of the desired shape and size thereon, a feeding means 13 foradvancing the cone into the tube and for removing it therefrom, and ayoke 14 for supporting the feeding means and flaring cone above the endof the tube to be flared. Giving detailed consideration first to theclamping means 10, it will be seen from FIG. 2 that this means consistsessentially of a pair of bar-type clamping members 16 and 17 which arehingedly connected with one another by a pair of links 18 and 19 (FIGS.1 and 4) to permit the members to be swung from their closed positionsshown in FIG. 2 to their open positions shown in FIG. 3. The clampingmembers 16 and 17 (FIG. 2) are each provided with a recess 20 and 21,respectively, for receiving die inserts 67 and 66 by means of which theclamping means may be adapted to receive different sizes of tubing.After the tube to be flared has been inserted in the clamping aperturesprovided by the inserts 22 and 23, and the clamping members 16 and 17have been closed as shown in FIG. 2, the clamping members may be drawntightly against the tube by a clamping device including a swingbolt 25which is receivable within a notch 26 (FIG. 3) provided in the distalend of the member 17 and which may be tightened down on the member bymeans of a wing-nut 27. The swing-bolt 25 is fast on the lower end of aswivel post 30 which, together with a similar post 31 (FIG. 1) providessupport for a strap or cross-bar 32 of the yoke 14.

The flaring cone 12 is swiveled on the lower end of a threaded spindle33 which runs in a threaded nut 34 secured to the strap 32 so thatrotation of the spindle by a handle 35 attached thereto will causefeeding movement of the cone 12 toward or away from the end of the tube11 as the handle is turned in one direction or the other.

As seen in FIG. 1, the posts 30 and 31 are provided at their upper endswith threaded tenons 37 and 38 which pass through oversize holes 39 and40, respectively, in the crossbar 32 thereby providing opportunity forsidewise or transverse movement of the crossbar 32 on the posts so as topermit self-alignment of the flaring cone with the tube 11. The crossbar32 is retained on the posts by means of self-locking nuts 41 and 42which hold the crossbar against substantial movement in the direction ofthe longitudinal axis of the posts while permitting it to move freely inthe traverse direction.

For this same purpose, freedom may also be providedon the lower ends ofthe posts at their point of attachment to the clamping members. Themeans whereby this is accomplished may be similar to the method used inthe case of the crossbar 32, that is, by providing oversize holes forreceiving the lower ends of the posts where they pass through theclamping members so that a slight amount of sidewise movement is allowedthe post as well as a certain amount of tilting or rocking of the postsabout their point of attachment to the clamping members. In FIG. 4 ofthe drawings is shown the method used in the case of the post 31 which,as here shown, is provided on its lower end with a journal 45 which isreceived in an oversize hole provided in a bushing 46 with fits snuglyinto a bore provided in the clamping member 17. The ends of the bushingproject beyond the faces of the member 17 to form trunnions for one endof each of the links 18 and 19. The post 31 is retained Within thebushing by a nut 47 which is screwed on a threaded tenion 48 formed onthe lower end of the post. The nut 47 is not drawn up tightly againstthe bushing so as to allow clearance between the nut and the bushing aswell as between a shoulder 49 on the post and the upper end of bushing.The post will thereby be permitted to partake of translatory movement ina direction normal to its longitudinal axis as well as rocking movementabout its point of support on the clamping member which, in this case,is provided by shoulder 49.

A similar form of construction may be used in the case of the post 30,although the bushing may be omitted in this case if desired. Aspreviously mentioned, the clampbolt is secured to the post and isaccommodated in a slot (FIG. 1) provided in the end of the clampingmember 16 so as to permit the bolt to be swung outwardly to theunclamped position shown in FIG. 3. The post 30 is attached to theclamping member 16 by a nut 52 screwed onto a threaded tenon 53 formedon the bottom of the post 30.

The pivot links 18 and 19 for the clamping members are pivotallyattached to the clamping member 16 by means of a screw 55 (FIG. 4), theshank 56 of which passes through an aperture provided therefore in theupper link 18. The main body of the shank 56 is journaled in a boreprovided in an eccentric bushing 57 which is journaled in a boreprovided in the member 16. The eccentric 57 is provided on its upper endwith a screw driver slot 58 (FIG. 2) and is held in adjusted position bymeans of a set screw 59 which screws into a threaded hole in the member16 and presses against the side of the bushing 57.

The screw 55 is provided with threads 60 on its lower end which engagewith threads in a tapped hole provided in the bottom link 19. Hence,when the screw 55 is tightened as shown in FIG. 4, a shoulder 61 on thebottom of the shank 56 will be drawn tightly against the upper face ofthe link 19 and secure the screw to the link. Hence, the links 18 and 19will move as a unit with the screw 55 and the shank 56 of the screw willrotate within the bore formed in the eccentric 57 to thereby form apivot for the links in the clamping member 16. Any wear occurringbetween the shank of the screw and the eccentric 57, and any wearoccurring between the bushing 46 and apertures in the links 18 and 19may be taken up by adjustment of the eccentric 57.

As shown in FIG. 2, the link 18 and 19 do not lie exactly at rightangles to the sides of the clamping members when they are closed upon atube held in the clamping aperture but are canted slightly with respectto the perpendicular which, in FIG. 2, is indicated by the dot and dashline xx. The inclination of the pivots of the links is such that theswinging member 17 of the clamping means is pivoted at a point slightlyforward or closer to the aperture than the pivot for the links on themember 16. This will enable the swinging member 17 to move slightlyrearward as shown in FIG. 3, when it is moved to its 'open position sothat the heel 65 of tube clamping interest 66 will be permitted to moveaway from the tube as the member 17 is swung open.

The insert 66 and its companion insert 67 are receivable within therecesses 20 and 21 formed in the clamping members 16 and 17 for thepurpose of accommodating the clamping means to tubing of differentsizes. As best shown in FIG. 1, each of the clamping members is providedwith a pair of retaining lugs 70 located at the bottom of the recessesand on opposite sides thereof. These are adapted to mate with grooves 71(FIG. 6) formed on opposite edges of the inserts 66 and 67 so that whenthe inserts are slid into the recesses 20 and 21, the grooves 71 willmove behind the lugs'70 and retain the inserts within the recesses. Eachinsert is adapted to be held against upward movement out of itsassociated recess by means of spring clip 72 (FIG. 7) secured to theupper face of its related clamping member 16 or 17. Each insert isprovided at its upper end with a flange 73 which is adapted to seat onthe upper face of its associated clamping member when the insert is inplace. The upper faces of the flanges 73 are preferably countersunk asindicated by reference numeral 74 in FIG. 7 so that the flange of theinsert will. snap beneath the clip 72 and be 4 held against lateral aswell as vertical movement within the recess. Each insert is alsoprovided with a chamfer 75 for supporting the outside wall of the tube11 as it is flared outwardly by the cone 12.

Double flares may be formed with my improved type of tube flaring toolby the use of a novel type of doubleflare die which is adapted to fitover the cone 12 of the flaring tool. As best shown in FIG. 5, thedoubleflare die may be constructed in the form of a plate or washerhaving a conical recess or seat 81 formed in one side of the plate 80and a concavity or pressure face 82 formed in the other side of theplate 80. The conical recess 81 converges into plate 30 and intersectsthe surface of the concavity 82 substantially in a plane forming acircular aperture 84, surrounded by the annular concavity or pressureface 82.. The conical recess 81 is complementary to the cone-shaped faceof the flaring cone 12 so that the die 80 will seat snugly on the coneas illustrated in FIG. 5. The die 80 may be held in this position on thecone 12 by means of a plurality of spring clips 83 which are adapted tosnap over the upper edge of the cone 12 and hold the die 80 in placethereon. The dies 80 are made in different sizes for the different sizesof tubes to be flared by the tool and, as shown in FIG. 5, the size ofthe aperture 84 in the die 80 should be approximately the same dimensionas the inside diameter of the tube 11 so that the tube will contact thepressure face 82 of the die substantially in the plane of the aperture84. Under these conditions, the tip portion of the flaring cone 12projecting beyond the aperture 84 in the die 80 will serve as a stop toprevent inward movement of the end of the tube 11 as it is expanded upondownward movement of the cone 12 and die 80. After the tube 11 has beenexpanded by use of the double-flare die 80, the flaring cone 1?. may bebacked off and the die removed, whereupon the cone 12 may again be feddownwardly into the end of the tube 11 to fold the flange formed on thetube inwardly and complete the double-thickness flare on the end of thetube.

In FIG. 9 of the drawings is shown modified form of the double-flare diejust described, the die plate 85 in FIG. 9 being of an elongated shapeso as to accommodate a plurality of doubleflaring dies of differentsizes to correspond with the sizes of tubing handled by the tube flaringtool. As shown in FIG. 9, each die consists of an aperture formed in theplate with a conical surface 86 formed about the aperture on the upperside of the plate, and an annular concavity 87 surrounding the apertureon the bottom side of the plate. To conserve space, the conical faces 86intersect one another is illustrated in FIG. 9 so that the dies may beplaced closer together on the plate. This arrangement will not interferewith the proper seating of the die plate on the conical face of theflaring cone.

I have provided my improved form of tube flaring tool with a gauge forassisting the user of the tool in inserting the correct length of tubingin the tool to form an accurately dimensioned flare thereon. For thispurpose I have provided a finger 90 which serves as a stop for the tubewhen it is pushed upwardly into the clamping aperture provided by theinserts 66 and 67. As shown in the drawings, this fingerfor stop 90 ismounted on a square head 91 provided on the end of a plunger 92 which isslidably received within a transverse bore provided in the post 30. Atis opposite end, the plunger is provided with a thumb screw 93 which isbiased outwardly by a compression spring 94 coiled around the plungerbeneath the thumb screw and bearing against the side of the post 30. Thepost is fiatted on one side to provide a recess having top and bottomshoulders 95 (FIG. 8) for holding the plunger against rotation in anyone of four positions to which it may be moved by pressing in on thethumb screw to compress the spring 94 and thereafter rotating the thumbscrew to bring the stop 96) to the position desired. When the stop 90 isin its lowermost position, as indicated in FIG. 8 of the drawings, itwill lie only slightly above the tops of the die inserts and will limitthe insertion of the tube 11 to the proper extent to provide a singleflare of correct dimensions. When the plunger 92 is turned 90 clockwisefrom the position shown in FIG. 8, the stop will lie at the properheight above the tops of the inserts to provide for a double flare ofproper dimensions on the smallest of size tubing. Rotation of theplunger 92 through another 90 clockwise will bring the stop finger 90 toits highest position above the tops of the inserts where it will serveto correctly gauge the largest sizes of tubing for the formation ofdouble flares thereon. Rotation of the stop 90 through another 90clockwise will bring the finger to an intermediate position where itwill gauge the insertion of intermediate sizes of tubing for theformation of double flares thereon.

Inasmuch as the plunger 90 is carried by the post 30, it will partake ofthe rocking movements of the post as the swing-bolt 25 is rocked fromclamping position to unclamping posit-ion and vice versa. As shown inFIG. 2, when the clamp bolt 25 is in clamping position, the stop 90 willlie to one side of the tube clamping aperture formed in the clampingmembers 16 and 17 and so will not interfere with the operation of theflaring cone on the end of the tube held in the clamping members. Whenthe clamping bolt 25 is swung to its unclamping position as shown inFIG. 3, the stop 90 will be moved over the clamping aperture and willserve to stop the tube as it is moved upwardly into position in theaperture formed by the die inserts. After the tube has been stopped bycontact with the finger 90, the clamp bolt 25 may be swung to itsclamping position after which the thumb nut 27 may be tightened tosecurely clamp the tube within the aperture preparatory to a tubeflaring operation. With the movement of the clamp bolt to its clampingposition, the finger 90 will be moved to the FIG. 2 position where itlies to one side of the tube and flaring cone.

The operation of my tube flaring tool is as follows:

The tool is made ready for flaring a given size of tubing by opening theclamping members and removing the die inserts 66 and 67 from therecesses 20 and 21 after which die inserts of a size corresponding tothe tubing to be flared are inserted in the recesses. The inserts areplaced in the recesses by sliding them downwardly therein so that therecesses 71 in the inserts engage behind the lugs 70 after which theflanges 73 are snapped beneath the clips 72. The tube gauge is thenadjusted to the proper position by pressing in on the thumb screw 93 andturning the plunger until the square head 91 is properly positionedafter which the thumb screw is released and the head permitted to seatin the flatted recess provided therefore on the post 30. The tube is nowinserted in the clamping aperture and the clamping members are movedtogether to guide the tube as it is pressed upwardly against the stop90. Still holding the clamping members together, the user of the toolnow swings the clamp bolt 25 to its clamping position thereby removingthe stop 90 from over the end of the tube and moving the bolt into thenotch 26 provided therefore in the end of the clamping member 17. Thewing nut 27 is now tightened to secure the tube within the clampingaperture. If a double flare is to be formed on the end of the tube, adouble-flare die (FIG. 5) of the proper size is clipped onto the flaringcone 12, or the alternate form of double-flare die shown in FIG. 9 isutilized to effect the desired expansion of the upper end of the tube inthe manner heretofore described. After the tube has been expanded by thedouble-flare die, the cone is backed OE and the die removed whereuponthe cone is again fed into the end of the tube to fold in the expandedportion of the tube and produce a double flare of the correct dimensionson the end of the tube.

In these operations, the cone 12 is able to line itself up accuratelywith the longitudinal axis of the tube 11 by reason of the lateralmovement permitted the crossbar 32 by the oversize holes 39 and 40provided therein. The freedom of movement provided on the lower ends ofthe posts 30 and 31 will permit slight rocking movement of the posts andthereby further assist the flaring cone to align itself with the axis ofthe tube 11. After the tube has been flared, the wing nut 27 may bereleased and the swing bolt 25 swung to the FIG. 3 position to permitthe flared tube to be removed from the tool and an unflared piece oftubing to be inserted therein.

While I have described my invention in connection with one possible formor embodiment thereof and have used, therefore, certain specific termsand language herein it is to be understood that the present disclosureis illustrative rather than restrictive and that changes andmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orscope of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A double-flaring die for use with the flaring cone of a tube flaringtool comprising a plate having a series of spaced apart aperturestherethrough of different diameters, a truncated conical surfaceadjoining each aperture forming a seat in one side of said plate forreceiving said flaring cone to extend through said aperture beyond theopposite side of said plate to center and guide the end of a tube, apressure face on the opposite side of said plate adjoining each aperturefor engaging and upsetting said tube end as the cone forces said plateagainst said tube end, and adjacent seats intersecting each other.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which adjacent seats overlapeach other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,955,913 4/1934Holsclaw 15379 2,595,036 4/1952 Wolcott 153-79 2,620,013 12/1952 De Voss153-79 2,774,408 12/ 1956 Franck 15 379 CHARLES W. LANHAM, PrimaryExaminer.

NEDWIN BERGER, Examiner.

1. A DOUBLE-FLARING DIE FOR USE WITH THE FLARING CONE OF A TUBE FLARINGTOOL COMPRISING A PLANE HAVING A SERIES OF SPACED APART APERTURESTHERETHROUGH OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS, A TRUNCATED CONICAL SURFACEADJOINING EACH APERTURE FORMING A SEAT IN ONE SIDE OF SAID PLATE FORRECEIVING SAID FLARING CONE TO EXTEND THROUGH SAID APERTURE BEYOND THEOPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PLATE TO CENTER AND GUIDE THE END OF A TUBE, APRESSURE FACE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PLATE ADJOINING EACH APERTUREFOR ENGAGING SAID UPSETTING SAID TUBE END AS THE CONE FORCES OF SAIDPLATE AGAINST SAID TUBE END, AND ADJACENT SEATS INTERSECTING EACH OTHER.